Massachusetts - Worcester, MA: Free veterinary care was given in a community where financial and transportation barriers limit available veterinary services. Wellness exams, vaccinations and education on pet care were provided.

New York - New York State Fair Hall for Veterinary Health: The team revamped its exhibits and improved interactivity in those exhibits.

Ohio - Columbus, OH: At this community outreach event, elderly and disabled pet owners as well as homeless residents of the area were provided pet wellness information and pet care.

Funded by the Banfield Foundation

2015 Our Oath in Action Events

Highlights of the 2015 Events

Alabama - "Fall Roundup and Taste of Alabama Agriculture" was held in conjunction with Auburn University's homecoming celebration. Visitors to the event were able to learn more about their pet's wellness and disease prevention, visit the Animal Emergency Response Trailer and watch demonstrations by Canine Performance Science detector dogs.California - "Animal Adopt-athon" provided the community of Davis, California the opportunity to give an animal a forever home with a loving family. Over 1200 attendees participated in the event which provided free veterinary exams and microchips, fun filled family activities and large animal rescue demonstrations.

Connecticut - "The Big Fix" provided veterinary medical care and surgery to more than 120 animals, many of them receiving veterinary care for the very first time. Most of the animals were owned by homeless or low-income families who lacked the financial resources to visit a veterinarian. The town of New Britain, Connecticut, where the event was held, does not have a veterinary hospital.

Florida - Our Oath in Action in Gainesville, Florida provided spay and neuter services in order to reduce the feral cat population. These services saved and improved the lives of free-roaming cats and lessened their impact on the surrounding community. Following the event, local shelters saw a reduction in the number of admissions, reducing the number of cats unnecessarily euthanized.

Georgia - Veterinary care was provided to animals owned by senior citizens living in low-income housing in the Atlanta area. Veterinarians, technicians and veterinary students not only provided medical care, but established a pet food pantry to provide a nutritional diet for the animals living in the housing complex.

Massachusetts - Two communityoutreach events benefited homeless and low-income pet owners in the Worcester community. Over one hundred forty animals were given complimentary wellness exams and vaccinations. The project's volunteers included local veterinarians, technicians, veterinary students, technician students and members of the surrounding community.

Michigan - Meridian Mall in Okemos, Michigan was home to an Our Oath in Action event that taught attendees the importance of proper pet care, including spay and neutering surgeries which prevent unwanted litters. Families participated in a scavenger hunt that provided a fun way of educating the public about the best ways to adopt a new family pet.

The History of Our Oath in Action

Our Oath in Action's history dates back to 2008 as the AVMA Annual Convention came to New Orleans and support was needed to continue the veterinarian profession's response to the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina. To assist in the recovery efforts in New Orleans, the AVMF organized volunteers including veterinarians, their staff, family and friends, to clean, repair and reopen animal shelters.

In the years that followed, the AVMF hosted veterinary volunteer activities held in conjunction with the American Veterinary Medical Association's Annual Convention. Across the country, from St. Louis to Atlanta, San Diego to Chicago, veterinary volunteers and their families donated countless hours in service to animals in need. In 2013, OOIA expanded to a national program. Today the AVMF's Our Oath in Action program continues to connect members of the veterinary profession with volunteer opportunities in their community.

If you are interested in volunteering at a future AVMF event or project, please complete the Volunteer Survey.

Programs

The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) is the charitable arm of the AVMA. For over 50 years the AVMF has been developing resources to advance the science and practice of veterinary medicine to improve animal and human health. Charitable contributions and support to the Foundation help veterinarians help animals.